Two teenage girls sailing solo around the world are keeping in touch with family, friends and supporters worldwide thanks to FleetBroadband. Sixteen-year-olds Jessica Watson and Abby Sunderland, who are both trying to set a new record as the youngest sailor to complete a non-stop unassisted circumnavigation, each have a FleetBroadband 250 terminal on board.
Like most teenagers, the girls are avid users of social networking sites and digital media. They have been busy blogging on their websites and on Facebook, tweeting on Twitter, and uploading videos and photos to YouTube and Flickr.
Weather updates
Jessica is also transmitting video updates to her broadcast partner, Australian sports channel One HD.
The high-speed connectivity means they can also use FleetBroadband for important weather, navigation and safety updates, as well as requesting help and support for any medical problems or issues with the boat or equipment.
Jessica, from Australia, was the first to set sail, leaving her home port of Sydney last October on board the 10-metre (33ft) S&S 34 yacht Ella¿s Pink Lady. Her vessel is equipped with a Thrane & Thrane Sailor FleetBroadband 250 terminal donated by Inmarsat partner SatCom Global.
Progress updates
Jessica said: "SatCom Global has supplied me the communications equipment and airtime that is a crucial component of my voyage. It enables me to communicate with the outside world, both as a safety mechanism and also to keep everyone up to date with my progress.
"Mum and dad would never have let me leave without these important pieces of equipment, as it gives them peace of mind that they can keep in touch with me throughout the journey."
By 10 March, Jessica was crossing the Indian Ocean, getting ever closer to home after sailing 16,500 of the 23,000 nautical miles.
Friendly challenge
But despite both girls aiming to establish a new world record, it appears that neither considers the other an arch rival.
When American sailor Abby Sunderland set out on her quest in January, Jessica sent her a message in her blog: "Congratulations times a million to Abby Sunderland for departing on her voyage last Saturday - I know what a challenge it is - just to get to the start line.
"Despite the fact that there seems to be a lot of adults determined to see Abby and I pitted against each other as rivals, I only wish her the best of luck and am totally thrilled that there's another girl going for the record!"
Abby departed from Marina del Ray, California, on 23 January, on her Open 40 racing yacht Wild Eyes, which was specifically designed for single-handed sailing in the Southern Ocean.
Brother's record
Abby is being sponsored by Thrane & Thrane with a Sailor FB250 terminal. She said: "It can get lonely out here so it's reassuring to know that I can get in touch with home for a quick chat on the phone, or through email, Twitter and Facebook.
"The Sailor equipment is easy to use and has worked well so far. I've been able to update my blog on a regular basis and it's been great to see all of the messages of encouragement that friends, family and well wishers from all over the world have left for me. Without FleetBroadband, I couldn¿t get this support and my time at sea would be much tougher."
She is following in the footsteps of her brother Zac, who was 17 when he set the record as the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe in June 2009, only to lose it to British sailor Mike Perham a month later.
Thrane & Thrane sales director Ron Lockerby commented that FleetBroadband had already been proven in the extreme conditions of the Volvo Ocean Race.
"Unlike the professional Volvo teams, Abby's primary goal may not be speed, but as she faces a lonely, dangerous journey she can be confident in the tried and tested reliability of her Sailor 250 FleetBroadband and the fact that she will always only ever be an email or phone call away from home."
